Figurant cards as a tool to link live field and virtual simulation exercises in disaster medical training

Abstract

Background Simulation exercises are widely used for disaster medical training. For establishing a more effective training program, we developed figurant cards as a tool to link live field and virtual field exercises in disaster simulation training. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptance of figurant cards in live a field exercise. Methods Figurant cards were created to provide information on the severity of injury and the status of victims conforming to the patient database used in virtual disaster simulations. These cards were applied to mock patients in a live field exercise. Following the exercise, a questionnaire survey concerning figurant cards was administered to participants. Results The field exercise using figurant cards was executed satisfactorily. Fifty-eight participants completed the post exercise evaluation form. More than 80% of the participants agreed on the usefulness of figurant cards in informing the patients' current status, and 15.3% of the participants concluded that instructions concerning changes in the patients' condition with time and treatment intervention were insufficient. Conclusions Figurant cards appear to be useful for linking live field and virtual simulation exercises.